Improvement in velocipedes



E. WHITEHEAD.

VELOCIPEDES.

No. 194,980; Patented Sept.11,1877.

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EDWARD WH-ITEHEAD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,9 S0, datedSeptember 11, 1877; application filed August 9, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD \VHITEHEAD,

of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to that class of velocipedes having twoindependent drivingwheels in the rear, operated by the riders feetthrough the instrumentality of suitable cranks and a series ofgear-wheels; and the object of my invention is to render such vehiclescapable of being diverted or turned either to the right or left with thegreatest facility, and without interfering with the proper action of thefoot-cranks.

To accomplish these results, I secure to the inner end of one of thedriving-axles a bevel-wheel, which gears with another bevelwheel, thelatter being applied to a shaft that occupies a radial position withreference to the master-wheel of the vehicle. Said master-wheel isoperated from the foot-cranks by means of one or more gear-wheels, orwith pulleys and belts, if preferred. The inner end of the otherdriving-axle is also furnished with a bevel-wheel that gears with thebevel-wheel applied to the above-described radial shaft of themaster-wheel of the velocipede. This master-wheel is located between andrevolves freely on the inner ends of the two driving-axles. Now, whenthe vehicle describes a curve, the aforesaid construction allows theouter driving-wheel to rotate at a higher speed than the inner one, andwithout in the least affecting the movements of the foot-pedals or otheractuating devices.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of myimproved velocipcde. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, the drivers seat anda portion of its supporting-frame being removed. Fig.3 is arearelevation of the vehicle; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a modifiedform of the master-wheel, taken in the plane of the driving-axles of thevehicle.

A B represent the two independent rear or driving wheels of thevelocipede, said wheels being rigidly secured to their respective axlesO D, whose inner ends terminate with stud-shafts c d, as more clearlyseen in Fig. 4. Keyed to driving-axle G, and near the inner end thereof,

is a bevel-wheel, E, of any suitable size. F is a precisely similarbevel-wheel, secured near the inner end of the other driving-axle D.These two wheels E F mesh with a bevelwheel, G, whose shaft g occupies,preferably, a radial position with reference to the masterwheel H. Theinner end of this radial shaft 9 is stepped in the huh I of wheel H,while the outer end of said shaft is journaled in a bar, J, which lattermay be secured to said master-wheel with bolts j or otherwise. This barmay, however, be omitted, and the outer end of the radial shaft can bejournaled in a box bolted to a web or lug cast with wheel H.Furthermore, the hub I is furnished withtwo axial sockets, i i, toreceive the studshafts c d, by which means said shafts arecaused toserve as the journal-bearings for master-wheel H. Wheel H gears withanother one, K, which intermediate wheel K engages with the one L, towhich latter the driving-cranks or foot-pedals l l are applied.

The shafts of wheels K and L are journaled in the forwardly-convergingbars M M that connect with perch N. m is a cross-bar, that unites therear ends of members M M. This perch M M N couples the driving-axles G Dwith the front axle 0, upon which latter re 'volve the guiding-wheels o0, said axle 0 being united to the perch with any ordinary king-bolt.

P is the fifth-wheel of the velocipede. Q is a spring-bar, attached toperch N, for the support of drivers seat R, the rear end of said seatbeing mounted upon an upright frame, T T. Sis a spring, interposedbetween said seat and frame. 15 t are perforations in the frame, toadmit the inner ends of axles G D. (See Fig. 4.) U are inclined braces,connecting said frame with the outer journal-boxes VV of thedriving-axles. W is a spring-bar, that supports the front seatXof thevehicle. Attached to axle O are curved bars Y Y, united at their rearends to a guiding-handle, 3 which handle is conveniently located withreference to the occupant of seat R. m m are the inner journal-ooxes ofdriving-axles CD. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

The occupant of seat It operates the cranks or pedals Z l with his feetin the usual manner, and guides the velocipede with handle y, the'frontwheels 0 0 being kept directly in line with the drivers A B when it isdesired to have the vehicle proceedin a straight course. During thisdirectly forward progress, master-wheel H imparts uniform rotation toboth driving-axles O D through the medium of the bevel-gear G of saidwheel H. This bevelgear G now drives both of the bevel-wheels E F andtheir attachments, but does not revolve upon its own shaft 9, beingsimply carried around with master-wheel H.

In describing a curve, said bevel-gear G opcrates in an entirelydifferent manner, and in order to illustrate this opposite action ofsaid bevel-gear, I will suppose the handle g has been shifted so as toturn the velocipede to the left. It is evident that as the vehicle turnsin this direction the driving-wheel B must rotate at a higher speed thanthe wheel A, because said wheel B is describing the curve of the largerradius. Now, the only efi'ect of this increased rotation of driver Bisto cause bevelgear G to revolve on its radial shaft g, or with saidshaft, and without interfering with the free action of pedals l l, whichcontinue to operate the other driver, A, through the instrumentality ofactuating devices E, G, H, K, and L. If the velocipede should bediverted to the right, the opposite result takes place-that is to say,driver A now rotates rapidly, and revolves the bevel-gear G in itsbearings, while the other driver, B, is being operated by thefoot-cranks l l, in the usual manner. As soon as the velocipede is againconfined to a straight course, bevel gear G ceases to rotate in itsbearings, and consequently both drivers A B are now driven at an uniformspeed from the pedals Z Z.

If preferred, master-wheel H may be furnished with an additional bevelgear, Gr, mounted upon a shaft, g, as seen in Fig. 4; and in some casesthree or more of such gears may be applied to a single master-wheel.

I claim as my invention- 1 1. A master-wheel, H, whose hub I is provided with sockets 'i 1', within which sockets are journaled thedriving-axles O 0 D (1, whose bevel-wheels E F are operated by abevel-gear, G, applied to said master-wheel, substantially as hereindescribed.

2. An improved velocipede, consisting of drivingwheels A B, axles O c Dd, bevelwheels E F, and one or more bevel-gears, G, which bevel-gearsare applied to themasterwheelHI 1h, substantially as herein described.

3. In combination with master-wheel H I i i, having the bevel-gear Gapplied thereto, the wheels K L and foot-pedals Z Z, substantially asherein described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD WHITE HE AD.

Witnesses:

J AMEs H. LAYMAN, L. H. Born).

